The other finalists in North America for sports destinations in 2013 were
Chicago, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Toronto and
Vancouver in Canada.

The New Orleans tourism industry groups cited a string of major sporting
events held recently in New Orleans for bringing about the honor.

"New Orleans hosted an
unprecedented series of sporting events in 2012 and 2013, including the 78th
Annual Allstate Sugar Bowl, the 2012 Allstate BCS National Football
Championship, 2012 NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four, 2013 NCAA Women's
Basketball Final Four and Super Bowl XLVII, one of the most watched television
events and highly rated events in sports history," said the announcement from
the convention and tourism groups.

They also touted
upcoming events, such as the NBA All-Star Weekend in February 2014 and the 30th
edition of WrestleMania, produced by the WWE in April 2014. And they noted
perennial sports fixtures of New Orleans, including the New Orleans Saints, New
Orleans Pelicans, Bayou Classic, R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl and the PGA
Tour's Zurich Classic.